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DONDENA Seminar - Joacim Rocklöv

joacim_rockloev
Room 3-B3-SR01
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jointly with Covid Crisis Lab


“Climate-Driven Infectious Disease in Europe: Navigating an Evolving Risk Landscape”

SPEAKER: Joacim Rocklöv (Heidelberg Institute of Global Health & Interdisciplinary Centre for Scientific Computing) 

ABSTRACT: 

Climate change is increasingly manifesting its impact on human health through multiple pathways, with infectious diseases being a prominent and growing concern. Europe, in particular, is experiencing warming at nearly twice the global average, amplifying its vulnerability to climate-sensitive health threats. While the emergence and re-emergence of infectious diseases in response to climate change were once projections, they are now being increasingly observed and empirically confirmed.
However, climate change is not the sole driver of these shifts. Disentangling the influence of climate from other contemporary forces—such as global mobility, trade, and broader environmental change—is essential for accurate attribution and effective response. This complexity also raises critical questions about how best to strategize and adapt to evolving risks.
In this talk, I will present recent research spanning fundamental science to applied studies that address these challenges. I will also discuss emerging needs and opportunities for future research in this rapidly evolving field.



BIO:

Joacim Rocklöv is an Alexander von Humboldt Professor at Heidelberg University, with joint appointments at the Heidelberg Institute of Global Health (HIGH) and the Interdisciplinary Center for Scientific Computing (IWR). He serves as the Director of the Heidelberg Planetary Health Hub and leads the Climate-Sensitive Infectious Diseases group. Additionally, he is a Co-Director of the Lancet Countdown on Climate Change and Health in Europe.
Prof. Rocklöv’s research centers on the intersection of climate change, infectious disease dynamics, and data science. His work aims to strengthen pandemic preparedness and prevention, and to advance global health within the broader context of environmental change.